'Their awareness and attention to detail is just on another level," said Nuneaton Old Edwardians stalwart John Burdett.

Since being handed an eleventh-hour reprieve from relegation in 2016/17 courtesy of the knock-on effect of London Welsh's financial demise, the Level 7 club has been undergoing a transformation on and off the pitch.

Having benefited from Australian Lachlan McCaffrey's spare time during his spell at Leicester Tigers, the Eds reached out though the late Steve Savage to Wasps with a view to securing the services of any aspiring coaches on a part-time basis.

Step forward Jimmy Gopperth and Craig Hampson.

Initial progress was slow. Three wins from 15 games in their first campaign at the helm had all the hallmarks of an expensive failure.

Jimmy Gopperth talks with his Nuneaton Old Eds side (Image: Steve Lawrence)

But a final surge of five wins from seven games secured their Midlands 2 West South status and fast track to November 2018, the Eds are competing at the right end of the table with just one defeat in seven games.

Investing in the club's future

"Last season Jimmy and Craig would be with us one night of the two training sessions a week and we thought maybe we could have Craig on one night, Jimmy on the other," said Burdett, who played for the Eds for 18 years, including as captaining his side to a famous victory over Warwickshire in 1985 to celebrate the club's 75th anniversary.

"It soon became apparent that it was beneficial to have both of them together as often as we could.

"Obviously that carries with it a cost but not as much as it could be.

Craig Hampson watches on as Tim Smith lines up a kick at goal (Image: Steve Lawrence)

"So that is what we did towards the end of last season and during pre-season. It went so well it made sense to roll that over into the season too.

"They bounce off each other so well. Even this week, when we do not have a game at the end of the week, we've had 20-plus at training whereas in the past we would have eight or nine, maybe."

Get the beers in, Jimmy!

Gopperth, aged 35 and currently recovering from major knee surgery in the final year of his Wasps contract, is a little closer to his next career step than fellow coach Hampson.

"They've both bought into the spirit of the club fully," said Burdett, who keeps busy at the club as treasurer and co-manages the first team with one of his sons, Neil.

Nuneaton Old Edwardians last five results

Nov 3 - W 28-20 (A) Barkers Butts

Oct 27 - W 28-26 (H) Silhillians

Oct 20 - W 34-8 (A) Rugby St Andrews

Oct 6 - L 34-20 (H) Old Laurentians

Sept 26 - W 36-22 (A) Old Coventrians

"After the match we won against Berkswell last season to pretty much ensure we'd stay up, Jimmy put £250 behind the bar.

"They regularly buy jugs of beers for the boys. It's a nice touch and it goes a long way with the lads.

Jimmy Gopperth (far left) celebrates avoiding relegation with his Nuneaton Old Edwardians side

Burdett added: "Jimmy is having a bit of trouble at the moment with his knee, although, he is ahead of schedule with his rehab. We're not sure what the future holds for him in terms of staying on at Wasps or going back home to New Zealand.

"If that happens, we would be more than happy for just Craig to stay on. Craig is a hugely impressive individual and I think he has got a big future ahead of him when he finishes playing in coaching.

"He's full of ideas that the lads really appreciate, they arrive expecting to be challenged and kept on their toes."

Who is the boss?

Hampson's playing duties at Wasps have increased in recent weeks following the nasty ankle injury sustained by England hopeful Dan Robson.

Despite being locked into full-time training and playing responsibilities at a Premiership club, the 28-year-old regularly commits two, sometimes three, visits a week to the Weddington Road club.

"This year we've had a good buy-in from the club and they really want us to progress them, so they've decided to put us on for two nights a week," said Hampson.

"Me and Jimmy trek over together and talk about what we're going to do and develop them as a team.

"Our relationship is really good, people say 'who is boss?'. We have very similar philosophies on how we want to play.

Nuneaton Old Edwardians' next five games

Nov 17 - (H) Earlsdon (4th)

Dec 1 - (A) Evesham (8th)

Dec 8 - (H) Kenilworth (2nd)

Dec 15 - (A) Kidderminster (1st)

Jan 5 - (A) Southam (12th)

"I actually take the forwards, which is obviously a different test of your coaching abilities.

"I get a bit of help from Jammer [James Gaskell] and a few of the other lads, it's really good for me and I enjoy that.

"One day I might take defence, another day Jimmy might take defence. We bounce off each other well."

On another level

Both Hampson and Gopperth were on the sidelines at The Bob Coward Memorial Ground as the Eds secured an impressive 28-20 away victory against rivals Barkers Butts courtesy of tries from George Parker, Ryan Hatch, Phil King and Dave McAdam and four successful Matt Loveday conversions.

The latest win sees Eds trail league leaders Kidderminster by five points heading into a well-earned rest weekend from competitive action.

Jimmy Gopperth and Craig Hampson on the bench for Nuneaton Old Edwardians during their recent win at Barkers Butts (Image: Steve Lawrence)

"Whenever they have free Saturdays, Craig and Jimmy come to the games and both were there on Saturday against Barkers," added former hooker Burdett.

"You think you know a lot about rugby then you spend some time with these guys. They had Barkers sussed out within three or four minutes of their warm up. Their awareness and attention to detail is just on another level.

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"They're bought into the club as well. Against Sills [Silhillians] a couple of weeks ago the boys were not performing and Jimmy had right go at half-time. The lads look up to them and they responded well to win the game.

"The spirit is really good and lads are staying at the club when previously they might have moved on."

Gratitude for much-missed character

Senior Eds player Alex Cape, who like Gopperth is recovering from ACL knee surgery, spelt out how important a change in philosophy was to the club's survival.

"We had no chance of even starting this whole process without Steve Savage," said the 30-year-old, referring to the club's former director of rugby who passed away in November 2017.

Steve Savage during his Premiership touch judging days

"It was his idea and connection to approach Tigers to get Locky [McCaffrey] involved and he also had the connection with Wasps to get the ball rolling there.

"Jimmy and Craig treat it as one club and not just a first team so it's had a big impact on our second team too.

"Those players now come training and started playing far more often, they're top of their respective league.

"If the first team didn't stay up last year the signings we made wouldn't have come.

"The previously philosophy clearly wasn't working for us and without that change I am not sure we would have seen such an increase in engagement over the past three years.